Concord & Progress

A Strategy for the Royal Society of Victoria

Our Role and Mission

The Royal Society of Victoria convenes an independent community of science practitioners, educators, adherents and enthusiasts who advocate for and advance the value, prestige, excellence and visibility of scientific education, methodology and achievement within and for the benefit of Victoria. We promote the value of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine (STEMM) to the Victorian community, explaining the important role of rigour in the scientific method to inform well-reasoned argument and objective decision making in our state.

Our Objectives

INCREASING THE VISIBILITY, VALUE OF & REGARD FOR SCIENCE IN VICTORIA

1. The Royal Society of Victoria will increase public understanding of the scientific method, its discipline and rigour, as a fundamental basis for objective reasoning and evidence-based action in our society.

Key activities:

Convening, contributing to and participating in public deliberative processes, such as citizen juries or panels, to promote evidence-based decision making in public affairs and policy making.

Issuing position statements and mounting social media campaigns to raise the profile of important issues in Victorian science with the general public, including “calls to action” arising from emerging research outcomes.

Contributing to public discourse on matters of Victorian science through mainstream and online media.

2. We will motivate, recognise and celebrate excellence in scientific endeavour, increasing the public profile and regard for Victoria’s high achievers.

Key activities:

Resourcing and delivering a suite of distinguished awards, prizes and fellowships to encourage, recognise and promote outstanding contributions to science in Victoria.

“We have a long tradition of allowing civic affairs to be settled by persuasive rhetoric. That is inadequate for our modern society. Science and technology shape our world and, as a society, we need to make well-reasoned and scientifically literate choices about everything from genetic engineering to geo-engineering.”

New Scientist, 9 December 2015

2015 RSV Research Medallist Professor David Karoly (right) with RSV President Dr William Birch AM and Her Excellency the Hon Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria

May the Tempest of discord never re-echo from these walls! May every word resounding here be one expressive of friendly feelings, of philosophic thoughts of elevated inspiration for all

that is noble; and in aiming to fulfil the destiny for which we here are called, may our symbols be

Concord & Progress Dr Ferdinand Mueller, President, The Royal Society of Victoria, 21st December, 1859.

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Publishing Victorian scientists and/or science concerned with Victoria, establishing a corpus of work that demonstrates a clear narrative of excellence, promotes the impact of Victorian research, and establishes authors within a rich tradition of science publishing.

Providing a membership/fellowship structure that recognises fields of endeavour, levels of expertise, degrees of achievement, key interests and capacity for participation.

FOSTERING GROWTH & INNOVATION IN STEM EDUCATION, TRAINING & ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION

3. We will advocate and campaign for the importance of science education and literacy, seeking universal engagement with the sciences by Victorian students as a feature of personal growth, citizenship and future career agility and entrepreneurship.

Key activities:

Making clear the relevance and application of STEM skills to a range of roles, careers and applications.

Partnering, supporting and aligning with educators, agencies and campaigners with proven, impactful

pedagogical expertise to establish state-wide programs that support teachers of science and their

students.

Sourcing STEM volunteer and material support to schools and teachers in disadvantaged circumstances to

augment the quality and efficacy of their science programs.

Establishing community-based STEM skill development and activity programs for children and their families as an adjunct to school-based learning and social inclusion initiative.

4. We will identify, support and promote entry pathways to tertiary education, research and STEM industry participation for talented young people from diverse backgrounds.

Key activities:

Aligning with key partners to stimulate a “pipeline” approach to identifying, supporting and developing

young people with a talent for STEM practice and participation.

Seeking diversity and equal opportunity for developing/emerging STEM practitioners and leaders from underrepresented and marginalised backgrounds.

5. We will align with, convene and develop a diverse, engaged community of STEM educators, researchers, communicators, campaigners, innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders in Victoria to better realise a prosperous, sustainable, knowledge-based economy across our State.

Key activities:

Identifying, supporting and partnering with others whose mission and/or activities align with the goals of

the Royal Society of Victoria.

Seeking greater diversity and broader, more purposeful participation in RSV membership.

Convening and curating a program of lectures, forums, meetings and publications concerned with science-

related community, research and economic activities in or of importance to the State of Victoria.

“I personally devote much of my working life to science journalism, science education, pure and applied science, and general education. Why? Because it is important that our young people emerge from school and university with a solid awareness of the world around them coupled with a well-tuned ability to make evidence-based decisions, on matters that affect them personally and on matters that affect broader society. Such training equips them not only to contribute technological innovations that will continue to advance the economy, environment and prosperity of our global society, but also to address the existential problems of our times. “

Dr Alan Finkel AM Chief Scientist of Australia

Dr Alan Finkel AM, RSV Trustee & Chief Scientist

of Australia

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Contributing to a culture of productive collaboration across the disciplines, sectors and funding bodies in

Victoria.

Contribute to a convivial, connected science community in Victoria.

IDENTIFYING & PROMOTING A VICTORIAN LEGACY OF ENDEAVOUR, ACHIEVEMENT & EXCELLENCE IN THE SCIENCES

6. We will reveal and demonstrate the rich legacy of the scientific endeavour in our state as a foundation for contemporary societal benefits and an important source of Victorian cultural identity – telling the story of Victoria and Victorians.

Key activities:

Training and coaching members of the science community to deliver compelling stories of significant work

in STEM to the wider public and helping these stories to win positive impact.

Establishing a cultural program led by suitably qualified and enthusiastic members and partners to engage

a broader audience in science concepts and themes.

Commemorating and celebrating significant events and people in Victoria’s science history.

Using the Hall to curate displays and exhibitions, drawing on the Society’s collections to demonstrate the

history and philosophy of science in our context

7. We will maintain our heritage listed building, develop our facilities and advocate to protect significant science heritage in support of science, innovation and STEM literacy in Victoria.

Key activities:

Developing a fully costed, ten-year building maintenance and development plan for the RSV Hall, Caretaker’s Cottage and Grounds in consultation with appropriate statutory bodies and state trustees

Establishing a “friends” group to help maintain and develop our grounds and facilities in line with our development plan.

Partnering with Heritage Victoria to identify and protect sites and materials of significance to Victoria’s science heritage.

ESTABLISHING A SECURE FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH

8. We will activate the considerable talents of the membership through a high level of engagement, participation in and commitment to our Society’s goals, programs and activities.

Key activities:

Establishing clear channels for members to contribute their time, energies and expertise to developing and delivering the goals of the Society.

Providing access and insight to the many enterprises, activities and issues in play within the Victorian science community.

Pictured: The Aboriginal Story of Burke and Wills: Forgotten Narratives, produced by the Royal Society of Victoria and published by CSIRO Publishing, is the first major study of Aboriginal associations with the Burke and Wills expedition of 1860-61. A main theme of the book is the contrast between the skills, perceptions and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and those of the new arrivals, and the extent to which this affected the outcome of the expedition.

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Productively engaging members in purposeful discussions on the Society’s directions and performance, regularly seeking deliberative outcomes to aid decision making and governance.

9. We will extend the capacity of the Society to commission, support and celebrate the advancement of science through philanthropy, partnerships, sponsorships and grants.

Key activities:

Improving the Society’s reputation as a trusted partner and our capacity to collaborate with the philanthropic sector.

Creating a professional fundraising plan, governance structure, reporting regime and fund management approach to establish trust and transparency with current and prospective donors and supporters.

Developing persuasive proposals with costed implementation plans to share with prospective supporters.

Determining and communicating the clear benefits and impact of sponsorship to industry supporters.

10. We will develop and encourage mechanisms for diversity, succession and sustainability in the Society’s membership and leadership.

Key activities:

Establishing & maintaining relationships with a network of current and prospective leaders in the broad science community, aligning professional goals with opportunities for involvement with the Society’s programs and activities.

Offering mentorship, networking, meaningful honorary roles and professional development opportunities for early and mid-career members to support professional success and continued engagement with the Society’s activities.

11. We will seek peak return from the hire of RSV venues, facilities and land; identify and secure new revenue streams, and; establish a sustainable financial model to support the growth and impact of the RSV’s programs.

Key activities:

Clearly matching revenue with expenditure in the annual budget, demonstrating where cross-subsidies exist across programs.

Identifying administrative efficiencies and cost reduction in RSV staffing, programs and governance without compromising quality.

Establishing & maintaining relationships with contacts in government, industry and the research sector with venue hire needs.

Maintaining and upgrading the quality of venue hire facilities to keep pace with competitors.

Maintaining a high standard of customer service and hospitality to secure return custom.

Utilising facilities for their value as “in-kind” support of partner programs to win exposure for the RSV’s “brand” with broader audiences and markets.

Exploring opportunities for commercial utility and revenue potential for all RSV grounds and buildings.

The beautiful Cudmore Library at the RSV